In the absence of bids, the public sale that attracted a small group of people outside the Craig Street facility Thursday morning was postponed for a week.

A group of activists and leaders from Hamilton Hill, including City Councilwoman Marion Porterfield, reiterated their hope that the building would be renovated and used as a community center.

As of Thursday, those individuals, most of them Hamilton Hill residents, had raised $20,000 in an online campaign.

"Our goal is that we will have a community center. That's the ultimate goal," said Porterfield.

Damonni Farley, a member of the group, said they also have some prospective matching funds.

The minimum starting bid for Carver, which closed abruptly in December 2013 because of financial problems, is $150,000. But Farley said real estate experts with whom the group has conferred said $70,000 is a fair asking price.

The auctioneer with All Points Property Management of Troy, a licensed real estate broker, has said that the main Carver building at 700 Craig St. and four other either adjoining or nearby properties, all owned by Carver Community Center, will all be sold as one.

The other properties are 702 (the playground), and 705 Craig St. as well as 201 and 215 Duane Ave., which are also delinquent on taxes.

Phil Danaher, an attorney representing the trustee of the bankruptcy court, explained to the group that their options, include leveraging the $20,000 they've raised as an offer or forming a limited liability corporation to purchase Carver and negotiate an agreement with lien holders.

"There's a chance a judge may never approve anything other than that. If that happens, then the state court system takes over and the mortgage creditor who has the mortgages against the building would just do a traditional foreclosure," said Danaher.

He also said if all the community and creditors reach a deal, they can submit a proposal for the bankruptcy judge's consideration.